Merz will also meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu on Sunday morning, before visiting Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial later in the day.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told President Isaac Herzog that Germany wants to be more involved in the situation in the Gaza Strip, including the return of the remains of the final hostage, St.-Sgt.-Maj. Ran Gvili.

The comment came amid Merz's visit to the President's Residence in Jerusalem on Saturday night.

President Isaac Herzog hosts German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Jerusalem, December 6, 2025. (CREDIT: GREGORY BADO/GPO, GIDEON ARNOLD/GPO).

Germany's approval of a two-state solution was not intended to upset the Israeli public, Merz commented. Herzog and Merz agreed that bilateral relations are "much closer than portrayed in the media."

"It is in our core DNA to stand with Israel," Merz said.

"We have become very close friends, and for me to see the Arrow 3 missiles being installed in Germany to defend Germany and Europe, Israeli-made products, is something very unique and moving and important," Herzog said.

"I come as a friend, and we've met on numerous occasions before when we were able to hold discussions, but this is the first time I come in my capacity as Federal Chancellor. I come as a longstanding friend of Israel, and I'm delighted to have this first opportunity to be here in my capacity as Federal Chancellor on the first official visit," Merz stated.

"We couldn't meet in more challenging and more complicated times, and you know that Germany firmly stands at Israel's side, especially since the horrific attack perpetrated by Hamas on October 7, 2023. Since then, we were able to deepen and further intensify our friendship, and you know that we will always stand by Israel's side. We still consider this friendship a miracle. So shortly after the Shoah to be able to establish diplomatic relations and further continue to deepen and foster our friendship is very special and important to us indeed," he added.

"Israel has the right to defend itself and has the right to exist. We stand with Israel in its right to exist, and we support you in your endeavors," he affirmed.

"We are going to help you as peace and the negotiations enter into a next phase. The war is going to end as soon as Hamas has laid down all its arms, the war will end, and then we will look into the future," he continued.

"We also hope that the situation in the West Bank will continue to evolve in a positive direction so that in the end we will see a two-state solution that we have always advocated for, and the two-state solution is an important factor for good coexistence between Israel and the Palestinians, and the Israeli people, the Palestinian people, and the Arab world, for it to be able to live peacefully in peace and security and in dignity," he stated.

Merz will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, followed by a joint press conference, on Sunday morning.

According to reports in the German press, the talks are expected to focus on bilateral relations, especially the resumption of military cooperation following the partial lifting of the freeze on German arms exports to Israel in November. The talks will also cover stabilising the Gaza ceasefire and the US peace plan for Gaza’s “day after."

Regional stability and Germany’s role in supplying humanitarian aid to Gaza are also expected to be discussed. According to the same sources, the issue of rising antisemitism and the safety of German Jews will also be addressed.

Merz to make customary visit to memorial

Later in the day, Merz will visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial, where he will lay a wreath to honour the victims of the Holocaust, as is customary for every German leader’s inaugural visit.

He is also scheduled to meet relatives of the victims of October 7.

In a phone call with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas hours before his departure for Israel, Merz called for reforms within the Palestinian Authority.

He urged Abbas to push ahead with “urgently needed reforms” so that the organisation could “play a constructive role in the post-war order”.

The PA issued a statement saying that Abbas had briefed Merz on how the PA has been ‘reforming and modernising school curricula according to UNESCO standards’.

Abbas also claimed that the law on prisoner payments, known as ‘pay-to-slay’ in Israel, is being abolished and that the PA is ‘preparing to hold general elections as soon as the war ends and the appropriate conditions are met’.